Thomas William Colliss

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Fri, 04/09/2015 - 14:03

First Name:

Thomas

Middle Name:

William

Last Name:

Colliss

Mother's Name:

Charlotte (nee Kellow)

Father's Name:

Benjamin Colliss

Date Enlisted:

Monday, August 24, 1914

Rank at Enlistment:

Sergeant

Rank at Discharge:

Battery Sergeant Major

Unit:

10th Field Artillery Brigade

Company:

37th Battery

Service:

Artillery

Awards:

Military Medal

1914/1915 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Tuesday, September 6, 1955

Place of Death:

Sydney

Details:

Thomas Colliss (Service No 315) was born in Wagga Wagga, NSW in May 1887. At the time of enlistment he was a single 27 year old bricklayer from Woonona who had served six and a half years in the Militia. He embarked on HMAT A35 Berrima with 3rd Battery, 1st Field Artillery Brigade on 18th October 1914. Thomas saw service on Gallipoli but was evacuated to hospital on 31st July 1915 for treatment of a tumor of the abdomen. He recovered and saw service on the Western Front with 10th Field Artillery and was promoted to Battery Sergeant Major.

Thomas was admitted to hospital sick on 11th March 1917 and returned to his unit on 27th May 1917. On 8th August he won the Military Medal for bravery in the field at Cerisy, no further details available. On 13th August 1918 he was wounded in action and evacuated for treatment to a gun shot wound to his thigh. Thomas returned to his unit on 29th August 1918. On 8th October he was returned to Australia as part of the 1914 leave men. He was discharged at the end of the war. His Military Medal had been awarded a week before he returned home.

In 1922 he married Josephine Benfield and had one son. Thomas died in Sydney in 1955.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, COLLISS T W